News: digital

PRH launches Tim Peake and Penguin Podcast skills for smart speakers

Penguin Random House has unveiled two new voice-activated 'skills' for Amazon’s Alexa devices. Read more

Keynotes announced for FutureBook's AudioBook Conference

W F Howes general manager Miles Stevens-Hoare and Enders Analysis’ Joseph Evans are to join radio futurologist James Cridland as the keynote speakers at The... Read more

EU council allows removal of VAT from e-books

The EU's Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) today agreed on a proposal which will allow all member states to give e-books the same VAT-free status... Read more

Last call for FutureBook Awards

The deadline for submission for the coveted FutureBook Awards is fast approaching. So far more than 50 companies, individuals and podcasts have been put forward... Read more

FutureBook shortlists to be unveiled at Frankfurt event

The shortlists for this year’s FutureBook Awards are to be announced at the Frankfurt Book Fair, with Pan Macmillan managing director Anthony Forbes Watson to... Read more

FutureBook teams with The Pigeonhole for writing competition

FutureBook is partnering with social reading app The Pigeonhole to run a short story competition exploring the future of the book. Read more

Bibliotech raises $4m, will double London staff

E-textbook platform Bibliotech has raised $4.2m in its latest funding round and plans to double the size of its 15-strong software and sales team in... Read more

Amazon introduces updated Fire HD 8 tablets

Amazon has brought out two updated tablet devices: the next generation Fire HD 8 and the Fire HD 8 Kids Edition. Read more

Pan Mac teams up with The Pool and Pigeonhole for Morton's latest

Pan Macmillan has teamed up with The Pool and digital book club The Pigeonhole to offer readers of Kate Morton’s sixth novel a shared reading... Read more

Audible UK revenue soars 45%

Audible UK grew its revenue by 45% last year to over £97m and posted its first operating profit to date of almost £2m (£1,936,981). Read more

Ex-Netflix exec and producer launch database for book adaptations

A US producer and former Netflix executive are embarking on a joint venture, 'TaleFlick', which offers a library of searchable books for adaptation across film, TV... Read more

Hugh Bonneville to narrate Peter James' Absolute Proof

Actor Hugh Bonneville is voicing the audiobook of Peter James' upcoming new thriller Absolute Proof. Read more

Mooney and Naidoo found commercial digital publisher

Lindsey Mooney and Keshini Naidoo are launching a female-fronted digital-first publisher ‘Hera’ with support from Canelo, The Bookseller can reveal. Read more

Twelve Ken Follett classics get new audio editions

Pan Macmillan is releasing new audio editions of 12 classic Ken Follett thrillers, read by well-known actors including Richard Armitage and Emilia Fox. Read more